By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services | East Valley Tribune
Want one of those new Tesla all-electric cars that Consumer Reports has been raving about?
If you’re an Arizona resident, you’re going to have to jump through some extra hoops, all because of a state law designed to protect car dealers.
Yes, you can go take a look at the cars, which start at $70,000, at what the company calls its “gallery” at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall. You can kick the tires, sit behind the wheel and ask questions.
But you can’t buy one there. And you can’t take it for a test drive.
In fact, the employees in Arizona really can’t even talk much about price.
Instead, you have to either drive to California or decide you like it so much that you’re willing to place an order online — with a $2,500 refundable deposit.
It’s not by choice, explains company spokeswoman Shanna Hendriks.
“In order to sell cars in Arizona, you need to have a dealer’s license,” she said. And Tesla does have some dealerships elsewhere. But not here.
